Systems and methods for concurrently delivering high frequency and long pulse width electrical stimulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025032783-A1
Application number	US-202418916512-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2024
Priority date	Apr 25, 2022
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present technology is directed generally to electrical stimulation and associated systems and methods. For example, in some embodiments a first electrical signal can be applied to a target neural population via two or more electrodes on a signal delivery element, and a second electrical signal can be applied to two or more different electrodes on the signal delivery element. The first electrical signal and the second electrical signal can have different parameters. For example, the first electrical signal can have a frequency under 1.2 kHz and the second electrical signal can have a frequency greater than 1.2 kHz. In some embodiments, the first electrical signal has a relatively long pulse width, such as between about 5 milliseconds and about 2 seconds, such that it approximates a direct current signal.

First claim

1 . A method of treating a patient, comprising:
programming a signal generator to:
deliver a first electrical signal to a target neural population of the patient via a first set of electrodes of an implanted signal delivery device, the first electrical signal having individual pulses having a pulse width within a pulse width range of from about 5 milliseconds to about 2 seconds; and
deliver a second electrical signal to the target neural population via a second set of electrodes of the implanted signal delivery device, the second electrical signal having a frequency within a frequency range of from about 1.2 kHz to about 100 kHz,
wherein the first set of electrodes is different than the second set of electrodes, and wherein delivery of the first electrical signal at least partially temporally overlaps with delivery of the second electrical signal.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse width range is from about 10 milliseconds to about 1 second.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first electrical signal includes bi-phasic pulses with a leading phase having a pulse width in the pulse width range of from about 5 milliseconds to about 2 seconds, followed by a charge balancing phase.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein programming the signal generator to deliver the first electrical signal includes programming the signal generator to deliver the leading phase such that current flows in a first direction along the patient's spinal cord during the leading phase, wherein the first direction is associated with enhancing neural activity of the target neural population.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the first direction is caudal to rostral.

6 . The method of claim 3 wherein programming the signal generator to deliver the first electrical signal includes programming the signal generator to deliver the leading phase such that current flows in a second direction along the patient's spinal cord during the leading phase, wherein the second direction is associated with suppressing neural activity of the target neural population.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the second direction is rostral to caudal.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the target neural population includes non-adapting neurons.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first set of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode;
the second set of electrodes includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode; and
the third electrode and the fourth electrode are positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode along the signal delivery device.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first set of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode;
the second set of electrodes includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode; and
the third electrode is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode is positioned between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the target neural population includes neurons in a spinal cord of the patient, and wherein the implanted signal delivery device is positioned proximate the spinal cord of the patient.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the target neural population includes one or more peripheral nerves of the patient, and wherein the implanted signal delivery device is positioned proximate the one or more peripheral nerves.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more peripheral nerves include one or more neurons that directly innervate muscle tissue.

14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more peripheral nerves include the vagus nerve.

15 . A method of treating a patient, comprising:
delivering a first electrical signal to a target neural population of the patient via a first set of electrodes off an implanted signal delivery device, the first electrical signal having individual pulses having a pulse width within a pulse width range of from about 5 milliseconds to about 2 seconds; and delivering a second electrical signal to the target neural population via a second set of electrodes of the implanted signal delivery device, the second electrical signal having a frequency within a frequency range of from about 1.2 kHz to about 100 kHz, wherein the second set of electrodes is different than the first set of electrodes, and wherein delivery of the first electrical signal at least partially temporally overlaps with delivery of the second electrical signal.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the pulse width range is from about 100 milliseconds to about 1 second.

17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the first electrical signal includes bi-phasic pulses with a leading phase having a pulse width in the pulse width range of from about 5 milliseconds to about 2 seconds, followed by a charge balancing phase.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein delivering the first electrical signal includes delivering the leading phase such that current flows in a first direction along the patient's spinal cord during the leading phase, wherein the first direction is associated with enhancing neural activity of the target neural population.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the first direction is caudal to rostral.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein delivering the first electrical signal includes delivering the leading phase such that current flows in a second direction along the patient's spinal cord during the leading phase, wherein the second direction is associated with suppressing neural activity of the target neural population.

21 . The method of claim 15 wherein the second direction is rostral to caudal.

22 . The method of claim 15 wherein the target neural population includes non-adapting neurons.

23 . The method of claim 15 wherein:
the first set of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode;
the second set of electrodes includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode; and
the third electrode and the fourth electrode are positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode along the signal delivery device.

24 . The method of claim 15 wherein:
the first set of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode;
the second set of electrodes includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode; and
the third electrode is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode is positioned between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

25 . The method of claim 15 wherein the target neural population includes neurons in a spinal cord of the patient, and wherein the implanted signal delivery device is positioned proximate the spinal cord of the patient.

26 . The method of claim 15 wherein the target neural population includes one or more peripheral nerves of the patient, and wherein the implanted signal delivery device is positioned proximate the one or more peripheral nerves.

27 . The method of claim 26 wherein the one or more peripheral nerves include one or more neurons that directly innervate muscle tissue.

28 . The method of claim 26 wherein the one or more peripheral nerves include the vagus nerve.

29 . A patient treatment system, comprising:
a signal delivery device having a plurality of electrodes and configured to be implanted proximate a target neural

Assignees

• Nevro Corp

Inventors

• Lee Dongchul
• Bradley Kerry

Classifications

• A61N1/36185

  Selection of the electrode configuration · CPC title

• A61N1/36175

  Pulse width or duty cycle · CPC title

• A61N1/36171 Primary

  Frequency · CPC title

• A61N1/36053

  adapted for vagal stimulation (A61N1/36114 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61N1/0551 Primary

  Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes · CPC title